Starbucks in China: from market leader to runner-up in the coffee craze
Starbucks (星巴克 in Chinese) is one of the biggest coffee shop franchises in the world. Its history began in 1971, when the first store was opened in Seattle. Since then, the chain had a non-stop development and, as of 2023, it counts more than 32,000 stores in 80 countries. Starbucks was also the first ever […]
Convenience stores in South Korea: transcending the mere label of convenience
Convenience stores in South Korea are continuing to grow, surpassing 50,000 stores in 2022. CU, GS25, and 7-Eleven are three of the biggest convenience store chains in the country. With these three leaders, the market size for convenience stores in South Korea is expected to be USD 25.08 billion in 2023, marking an estimated growth […]
From leaves to lifestyles: How are young consumers influencing the tea market in China
China hailed as the birthplace of tea with a rich history spanning over 4,000 years, stands as the epicenter of the world’s largest tea market. There are 7 types of tea in China: green tea, yellow tea, white tea, oolong tea, black tea, dark tea, and floral tea. In 2022, the production in the tea […]
Costco’s winning formula in China: premium brands, affordability, and exclusivity
Costco is experiencing considerable success in the Chinese market. The US wholesaler officially entered the Chinese market in August 2019, when its first physical store opened in Shanghai. The opening weekend marked a hive of activity – there were three-hour waits for parking spaces and thirty-minute queues at the checkouts. It caused local authorities to shut the […]
Could frequent shopping events like Crazy Thursday replace Chinese shopping festivals?
Crazy Thursday, or “疯狂星期四” in Chinese, is a promotional event hosted by the popular fast-food chain KFC. This event takes place every Thursday, during which KFC offers substantial discounts on various items from its menu. These discounts can often be quite significant, reducing the prices of KFC meals to a fraction of their original cost. […]
Navigating China’s food delivery: A soon-to-be half-trillion dollar billion industry
The online food delivery market in China is thriving, with numerous platforms providing a variety of culinary choices to meet the needs of the country’s extensive and diverse population. The market is predicted to reach a revenue of USD 395.9 billion in 2023, making China the world’s largest food delivery market. The market is also […]
China’s spirits market: baijiu reigns despite growing demand of foreign spirits
Throughout the country’s history, alcohol has been part of the Chinese culture, life, art, and philosophy. The spirits market in China is the leading sector in the beverage industry, boasting approximately RMB 1.1 trillion worth of revenue as of July 2023. Being such a huge part of the Chinese economy, the spirits market also represents […]
From Changsha to China: Sexy Tea’s journey through Guochao and product expansion
Sexy Tea（茶颜悦色）is a tea brand originating in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. Founded by Zhang Zhongzheng in 2013, the new-style tea chain has expanded its networks of stores, with a strong presence in cities like Wuhan, Chongqing, and Chengdu, although its primary roots remain in Changsha. It’s not just a favorite among Changsha’s residents but has […]
Caffeine across the border: the global expansion of Chinese coffee brands
Chinese coffee brands like Luckin Coffee, Manner Coffee, and Cotti Coffee are expanding their footprint in overseas markets, showcasing Chinese brand essence globally from multiple dimensions. The increasing global presence of Chinese businesses seeking growth opportunities highlights the crucial role of overseas advertising for Chinese brands. In 2022, China ranked second in worldwide advertising spending, […]
The snack market in China is increasingly focused on sugar-free, low-fat, and low-calorie options
Despite the perception that the COVID-19 outbreak is a distant memory, it continues to significantly impact the daily habits and preferences of individuals even today. According to the Online leisure in 2022 report, which focuses on snacking trends in the post-pandemic era, there has been a consistent and substantial rise in online snack sales in […]
China’s yogurt market: a billion-dollar opportunity for brands
Despite most Chinese people’s lactose intolerance, consumption of yogurt in China is set to increase in the next years. As the demand for healthier choices continues to rise, the yogurt industry is undergoing significant innovation and transformation, presenting ample opportunities for brands to find themselves a spot in this expanding market segment. Download the full […]
“What are the possible drawbacks of pre-prepared meals?”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
In the past few years, many regions in China have adopted centralized kitchens for school meals. Catering companies are tasked to distribute meals to local schools. Concerns have arisen about the health implications of such pre-prepared meal, as parents are worried this could potentially be detrimental to students’ health in the long run. There has […]